Sobre la cronología y el autor de la imagen románica de Santa María la Real de Irache (Navarra)

Abstract

The mention of a goldsmith called Rainalt as distinguished witness in a document from the Becerro of Irache (Navarre, Spain) leads the author to suggest that we are in the presence of the artist who created the sculpture of Santa María la Real de Irache, a Romanesque master work guarded inside the church of Dicastillo. Favourable circumstances, especially the abundance of economic resources, the demonstrated silver stock (needed for the characteristic statue's covering), the king García Ramírez's collaboration (1134-1150) and the probable ending of the Romanesque church apses, support the proposed chronology (about 1145). The sculpture's quality and her formal features (bonnet's knot) point to a qualified ultramontane silversmith, probably from Languedoc or Italy. If this hypothesis turns out to be true, we would have one of the few Romanesque carved virgins whose author and date are known.